Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Ridgeback vehicles have been  (a) delivered to and  (b) shipped from the United Kingdom; and what the delivery number of each such shipment was.

Quentin Davies: 157 base vehicles ordered under the Ridgeback programme have been delivered to the UK. I am withholding details of vehicles delivered to Theatre as this could compromise operational security.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects Ridgeback vehicles to be used in operations.

Quentin Davies: Ridgeback vehicles have been used operationally in Afghanistan since June this year.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Ridgeback vehicles will be fitted with new suspension units to improve off-road performance.

Quentin Davies: Ridgeback does not have any suspension problems. Trials are due to begin in October 2009, looking at ways of improving the mobility and payload of the various Ridgeback variants, and as part of this alternative suspension systems will be investigated. This is part of the ongoing improvement programme for all protected mobility vehicles; as the first phase of the trial and evaluation process is not due to complete until the end of this year, it is too early to say what modifications might be made.